SKALP From My Head To Your Feet
French V Music, 2008
DISC 1:
1. Interlude 2. Superstar 3. Chanana 4. You Want A Baby 5. From My Head To Your Feet
6. Old School Tribute 7. Don't U Mess With My Mind 8. I Just Wanna Be 9. Bang Bang
10. For Love 11. I Don't Care 12. The Way 13. Bounce 14. Superstar (remix)
15. Superstar (Remix)
DISC 2:
1. Back 2 U 2. Walkin' In The Groove 3. This Is It 4. Funkin' For Jamaica
5. My Desire 6. Funky Toons (ft. Don Blackman) 7. Best Of My Time 8. Play This Game
9. All Right 10. The Groover (Outrolude) 11. Superstar (remix) 12. Superstar (remix)
Skalp is a very funky artist to bounce onto the soul music scene in 2008,
and comes very highly recommended by two of his idols, George Duke and
Don Blackman. George comments that Skalp is bringing the MUSIC back to
dance music, and that is no mean feat. I personally feel that black music and
dance music parted company in the late 80s and allowed the scourge of Rap and
so-called R&B fill the void. Albums like this are assertive enough to
force out weaker albums and styles and reassert that magic genre of SOUL into
the dance arena.
Let's face it, there is definitely an 80s vibe coming back and it seems to be
pioneered, chiefly, from Europe. To be honest, I don't care where it comes from
as long as it hits the spot and moves me. Skalp – an odd name, I know! - hails
from France, as does the excellent Swade and Thomas G, and our
dear friend, U-Nam. That is one funky country and long may they produce
the goods! That's what I call entente cordial!
This album has grown on me immensely since I first heard it, and
at the moment it is in CONSTANT play. If Swade or Confection are to your liking
then there are equal moments of real excellence here, and even stronger is the
flash of an even greater potential. I can see this man going far, and if he
carries on in this vein I will be truly, truly happy.
Some songs on here would be massive if played generally in the clubs – take
the excellent, buoyant dancer, “Superstar”. OK, this comes in five different
versions, so play 'em and take your pick. For me the best one is track 2,
the original version. It has a modern club vibe, and a popular vibe to boot,
but Skalp carries it off admirably with a lot more soul and a strong 80s vibe.
This is a happy record and one of my favourite dancers of 2008!
“Chanana” is definitely 80s in focus, and we really get a taste of this man's
excellent vocals which are an enthralling mix of Sean Franks, Steve Harvey
and, in places, Michael Jackson! The title track is excellent with its
angry synth line, Jackson-type vocals and Sean Franks styled phrasing.
My favourite cut is so annoying, though, I have to say! At 90 seconds it is
FAR too short. If only this could have been stretched to a full 4 or 5 minutes.
The vocals and keys are to die for! A track I adore – and you'll probably
think I'm mad, but there we are – is the VERY contempoary groove of
“Bang Bang” which would easily suit the likes of Justin Timberlake – and he
is an artist who can deliver when he wants to, I can assure you! This is a
very 'now' sound but is more musical and intelligent than the rest of
today's nonsense.
As for ballads, I recommend the offbeat string-laden “For Love”; the strings
are almost out of key but there lies the genius. Burt Bacharach utilises
this perfectly, and even Mint Condition dabbled to dramatic effect on
their “Life's Aquarium” CD. I guarantee that this song will grow and grow
and grow on you. Simply beautiful.
Disc 2 kicks off in style with the foot-stompin' “Back 2 U” and R&B-ish
head nodder “Walkin' In The Groove” which should be big on radio. His
version of “Funkin' For Jamaica” is also of merit, complete with vocoder
and jazzy piano it is quite a fun take on the classic. If you like
the Fun put in your Funk, then check out the wonderfully tongue-in-cheek,
crazy party jam of "Funky Toons" which features none other than the legendary
Don Blackman on vocals. Don is no stranger to funky stuff like this,
as anyone who owns his GRP / Arista LP will know very well!
There is another very short but very sweet cut which is the synth based
“Play This Game” and, again, I wish this was longer. This is a pleasing set,
and as far as I can see this is only the start of bigger and better things
to come. But what a foundation! This is a limited edition 2 CD album and
can be found at www.soulchoonz.com.
